A sound I could live without

[Openwood]

Some of the keys on my (new) grand piano have begun making the kind of noise you get when a pencil has been dropped into the action and is happily bouncing around as the keys are used.

Suspecting this to be the case, I shoved my big fat head under the bonnet BUT LO, there was not a single writing implement to be found (not like when the same thing happened to my harpsichord - turns out some bugger had filled the thing with quills). Dearly beloved brethren, I beseech ye verily if anyone has any ideas as to what might be at the root of the nub of the gist of the crux of the problem, can'st thou inform me?

On the face of it it's not such a huge problem but after a while I may reach a level of distraction where relief can only be obtained by setting about the piano with a large blunt object, so I should probably get it fixed.

Cheers now.

[PianoGuy]

It'll be a loose hammer rest rail. It's held in place by a series of pairs of flat threaded nuts, probably four or five pairs in all, one at each end of the rail, and the others at break points in the hammer spacing. The lower nut, upon which the rail sits is to determine correct height, and the other nut tightens down on the rail.

One or more of these in all probability have come loose. Get your tuner to remove the action and tighten them. The upper nut will have an off-axis slot to enable a flat-blade screwdriver to be used.

[Openwood]

Thanks for the info - I'll get the tuna in.

[Openwood]

Turned out to be a bloody pencil after all - it couldn't be seen from above. I felt like a right idiot...

[Barrie Heaton]

Blackburn Cathedral holds the record for me 42 pencils about 4 rubbers and bits of rubbish -Most of them were those little ones you get in betting shops

Hull Town hall that had a lot in it as well

so your one is nothing

Barrie,